Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ISLAMABAD15254
2005-10-11 02:25:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:  

PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE - WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT'S NEXT

Tags:  AADP AEMR CASC EAID MASS PK PREL SENV ASEC PA 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 015254 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO USAID
KABUL PLEASE PASS TO CFC-A

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AADP AEMR CASC EAID MASS PK PREL SENV ASEC PA
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE - WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT'S NEXT

REF: A. ISLAMABAD 15208

B. ISLAMABAD 15130

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 015254

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO USAID
KABUL PLEASE PASS TO CFC-A

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AADP AEMR CASC EAID MASS PK PREL SENV ASEC PA
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE - WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT'S NEXT

REF: A. ISLAMABAD 15208

B. ISLAMABAD 15130


1. Summary and introduction: The Government of Pakistan
(GOP) says that it has confirmed 19,136 deaths and 42,397
injuries from the October 8 earthquake; both figures will
climb as rescue/recovery efforts continue. The GOP has
centralized disaster relief coordination in the Prime
Minister's office, under the leadership of a military
officer. The UN estimates that a population of four million
has been directly affected by the earthquake, with one
million in the most severly affected zones. USG assistance
-- humanitarian and logistical assistance and eight
helicopters to provide airlift -- has begun arriving in
Islamabad, and DART disaster assessments are underway. Post
has facilitated press coverage of incoming U.S. assistance
and the Ambassador has conducted a series of interviews with
major U.S. and international media outlets. As the GOP has
now begun to organize itself to confront the full
implications of this disaster, post will focus on determining
the specific material and services required for the relief
effort.


2. The U.S. announcement of an initial USD 50 million in
relief and reconstruction assistance struck just the right
chord. The Vice Chief of Army Staff Gen. Hayat telephoned
the Ambassador to express the GOP's gratitude for the
contribution and the arrival of U.S. helicopters for air lift
support. Having just returned from a tour of affected areas,
LTG Hayat indicated that Pakistan will require as many
helicopters as possible for an indefinite period, as areas
north of Mansehra and Muzzafarabad are inaccessible by road.
In Gen. Hayat's words, "the U.S. offer of assistance has
given both the Pakistani military and public a huge
psychological boost," so much so that it is now possible to
imagine that the country will pull through this crisis. End
summary and introduction.

GOP and NGO Relief Efforts
--------------



3. Disaster Relief Structure: Coordination for relief
efforts is now centered in the Prime Minister's office, under
the leadership of MG Faruk. Thus far, the military has been
the most visible agency on relief efforts, with other
government agencies scrambling to get in the game. The MFA
and other agencies have established task force-style
coordination centers. Activity has shifted out to the
airport, where the Interior Ministry has relocated its
National Crisis Management Cell and other agencies are
sending out liaison officers. Various political parties have
established relief funds; prominent politicians are following
President Musharraf's lead in making large public donations
to earthquake relief.



4. Donor Coordination: Post will report on GOP outreach to
the donor community septel.


USG Assistance - October 10, 2005
--------------


5. USAID Response: A IL-76 carrying Office of Foreign
Disaster Assistance (OFDA) relief supplies arrived in
Islamabad midday October 10. Save the Children was
positioned with trucks to transport the cargo (Blankets,
plastic sheeting, water cans). Disaster Assistance Reaction
Team (DART) team leader arrived at post on October 9 and has
been assessing damage; the remainder of the team will arrive
October 11 and 12.


6. Military Assets: The Office of the Defense
Representative - Pakistan (ODRP) has coordinated the arrival
of the following U.S. military assets:

-- One (1) C-17 arrived early morning October 10, carrying
relief supplies (Halal MREs, blankets, water),as well as a
10-ton fork lift and two (2) enlisted cargo handlers who have
remained to off-load relief planes at Islamabad/Chaklala
Airport.

-- Eight (8) helicopters from CFC-A arrived midday, but did
not fly any relief missions today. Helo crews will receive
relief missions assignments on October 11, per coordination
with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) air operations center.

-- Two (2) C-17s from McGuire AFB will arrive on October 10
carrying a 23-person Contingency Response Team and airfield
management equipment.

-- One (1) C-17 out of Kuwait will arrive late October 10
carrying blankets, medical supplies and water.

-- One (1) C-130 out of Bahrain will arrive late October 10
carrying RDML Lefevere and a humanitarian coordination team.


7. CFC-A Coordination: CFC-A Commander LTG Eikenberry
arrived in Islamabad midday for consultations with Embassy
and GOP officials. The GOP has accepted an offer of four
helicopters by the Government of Afghanistan (GOA); CFC-A
will provide support for the Afghan helos and ODRP will
provide ground support to the crews while in Pakistan.


8. NAS Assistance: Early on October 10, post's Narcotics
Affairs Section (NAS) dispatched seven (7) vehicles and
drivers to Manshera to assist with transportation needs at
the request of the District Coordinating Officer. The
Ministry of Interior Air Wing, a joint NAS-GOP program,
remains engaged in aerial relief support. NAS helos have
transported British search-and-rescue teams to remote areas
and flown DART/Bill Berger on an aerial surveillance mission
of the Muzzafarabad area.

Public Diplomacy
--------------


9. Ambassador Crocker has given telephone interviews for the
Monday morning shows on ABC, Fox, CNN and BBC Radio (UK and
World Service). The GOP has facilitated access by
international media access to both the civilian and military
sides of the Islamabad airport, allowing video and camera
coverage of incoming international assistance, including the
arrival of USG relief flights. Post has distributed copies
of the October 9 Statement by the White House Press Secretary
to local media and to GOP officials.



CROCKER